Volunteer raises money for wildlife

Friday 17th August 2018

Tony’s employer, HSBC UK, runs a Pound for Pound scheme that supports charitable fundraising. The scheme matches money raised or time donated by the employee, in their own time, to a UK-registered charity.

HSBC UK’s Pound for Pound scheme has matched Tony’s 50 hours of volunteering on Worcestershire Wildlife Trust nature reserves at £10 an hour, resulting in a donation of £500 to the local charity.

Tony, a member of the Redditch bird-ringing group, explained “I’m very grateful to HSBC UK that they have this scheme in place. I have been volunteering as a bird-ringer for many years and it’s great that my efforts have been doubled by this donation.

“I can only claim for the volunteering hours that I undertake but when you consider that there are several of us in the group who carry out these activities, many more hours of volunteering are undertaken.

“I’d encourage any employee of HSBC UK to look into the scheme or ask your employer if they do something similar. With HSBC UK you don’t need to volunteer – Pound for Pound will also match any money that you raise up to a maximum of £1000.”

Scientific study

Bird-ringing is a licenced activity that is undertaken on behalf of the British Trust for Ornithology and its results form part of long-term scientific studies that further enhance our understanding of birds.

Bird-ringing involves attaching a small numbered ring to the leg of a bird. This can then be read if the bird is captured, photographed or found dead. It is from activities like this that we know more about the longevity of birds as well as how far they migrate and whether they return to the same areas to breed.

The group normally purchase their own rings but wish to thank Professor Jon Sadler and Birmingham University for funding the rings used at Chaddesley Woods for studies that specifically researched great and blue tits.

Volunteering opportunities

Mike Perry, Head of Resources, commented “We’d like to say a big thank you to Tony for all the work he and his group have undertaken on our nature reserves as well as to thank HSBC UK for matching Tony’s efforts with a donation.

“Volunteering is crucial in underpinning the work that we do right across Worcestershire. We have an estimated 400 volunteers who supported us with an astonishing 26,500 hours of time last year.

“With volunteering opportunities as diverse as practical conservation on our nature reserves, working with teenagers, welcoming visitors to our events or researching the history of reserves, there really is something for almost everyone to get involved with.”

Michaela Wright, HSBC UK’s Head of Corporate Sustainability, said “Tony is one of thousands of members of staff doing great things for charitable causes, with almost 90,000 hours volunteered in 2016, many of which are donated during work hours.

“We are proud to support our colleagues to help them make a real difference up and down the country.”